Norman Kiwanis turns 85

For The Transcript

One of Norman’s most enduring civic clubs celebrates its 85th anniversary this week.

The Norman Kiwanis Club will celebrate the anniversary during its regular noon luncheon Tuesday at the First Christian Church. The buffet luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m. followed by a program. Members and their guests are invited to attend.

The club received its charter from Kiwanis International May 16, 1923. The charter night dinner was also served at First Christian Church which was then at 301 W. Main St. The ladies of the church prepared the evening meal for 37 charter members and 15 Kiwanians from the sponsoring club in Oklahoma City. In 1923 Norman’s population was 9,597.

Charter members were Phil Kidd Sr., Justin Hinshaw, Dr. W. T. Mayfield, Emery Stubbeman and Charles S. Standley. These charter members were active in the club through the early 1960s. Later Phil Kidd Sr. served as the first lieutenant governor from the Norman club.

In addition to the First Christian Church, the weekly luncheons have been held at the Tee Pee on Campus Corner, the Memorial Union, the Kopper Kettle, the Lockett Hotel, the Ramada Inn, the Holiday Inn and Denny’s.

The first project of the club was the Milk and Ice Fund, established in 1923. The unusual name for the fund was to support youth service projects. The club also held an annual Christmas party for boys and girls that same year. Since then the club has sponsored many fund raisers to support the young people of Cleveland County.

Probably the most notable project of the club is the annual Pancake Day, first held in August 1952. In recent years the Pancake Day has been at Norman High School in conjunction with the community Christmas parade. It has been the major fund raising event for the club with net proceeds supporting club service projects for the youth and senior citizens of Norman.

In 1953, the club hosted a Texas/Oklahoma district luncheon for Kiwanis International president Walter J. L. Ray in the student union. Oklahoma Gov. Johnston Murray welcomed the international president.

In 1965, the club made the initial contribution to purchase the Kiwanis Youth Camp from funds received from the pancake breakfast. Since then the club has paid a dollar a month to the Foundation Savings Account to finance capital improvements for the youth camp. The club also assisted in implementing the Mobile Meals Program when it began, contributing $500 for the initial phase of the program.

In 1975, the first Kiwanis Kruiser was purchased to offer transportation to the senior citizens of Norman. The club continues to assist with the operation of the Kruiser by supplementing payment of costs with a $100 per month contribution. In 1983, the club purchased a chair lift for the second Kruiser.

On May 16, 1998, the club celebrated its 75th anniversary. A dinner was at the Norman Masonic Temple. Gene Thrailkill, club president, acted as master of ceremonies. At the time the club had 120 members.

In 1998, Gary Tesch helped to implement the Terrific Kids Program in Norman’s elementary schools. Today, 11 elementary schools in Norman participate in the program.

The club expanded its involvement with the youth of the community through its sponsored youth programs with the first Key Club chartered at Norman High School with advisors Barbara Bowman and faculty advisor Jim Murphree leading the organization. That same year, Gene Thrailkill organized the first sale of Stratford peaches as an annual fund-raising event.

Funds raised by the club go to support a variety of community projects such as the free watermelon at the July Fourth “Norman Day’’ festivities at Reaves Park. They also provide free eyeglasses for Norman youth as well as make weekly contributions to the Children’s Miracle Network. The club continues to provide refreshments and prizes for Veteran’s Bingo at the Veteran’s Center and refreshments for patients at Griffin Memorial Hospital.

Every year the members participate in Salvation Army bell ringing, the Red Cross blood donor program, providing volunteers for Special Olympics and recognition for students of the month at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.

The club plans to continue its service to meet the needs of Norman and Cleveland County. Current president of the club is Bob Staples with Dan Baily serving as president-elect when the new officers take over in October.